Another Heartbreak for NCAA Volleyball as Creighton’s Long-Term Coach Makes Huge Announcement

Welp, it’s official—NCAA volleyball fans might need a group hug, because the heartbreak just keeps piling up. Earlier this year, Nebraska’s living legend John Cook—yep, the four-time national champ, the guy with more wins than any other D-I coach this century—decided to call it a wrap. After 25 epic years in Lincoln and a total of 32 as a head coach, Cook stepped away with a stacked resume that honestly reads like a volleyball fairytale. “Dream Big,” he always told his players—and wow, did they take that to heart. Four national titles, twelve trips to the semis, and a fanbase that treated every match like the Super Bowl. And what hit home the most?

His words: “For me personally, the greatest accomplishment in coaching is seeing former players go into coaching or other careers and taking the lessons they’ve learned from being a Nebraska volleyball player and applying it to their everyday lives. There is no greater reward in coaching than that.” Talk about leaving a legacy with heart. But just when everyone was trying to recover from Cook’s emotional exit, boom—another seismic shift. Over at Creighton, their longtime coach has now made her own huge announcement, adding another wave to this changing tide in NCAA volleyball. With two major icons stepping away, the NCAA court is about to look and feel very different.

Lincoln Arneal hit up X on April 6 with some major NCAA volleyball buzz that shook the Midwest court. He reposted Creighton Volleyball’s big announcement that read, “Brian Rosen Promoted to Replace Kirsten Bernthal Booth After 22 Remarkable Years”—and then followed it up with a mic-drop of his own: “Huge news out of Omaha! Kirsten Bernthal Booth is stepping down after 22 years. She went 502–192 at Creighton & made the NCAA tournament for the past 13 years. She did a tremendous job building them into a national power. The Bluejays promote assistant Brian Rosen to head coach.” 

And honestly? That’s not just a coaching change—that’s a full-on end-of-an-era vibe. Booth didn’t just win matches, she crafted a powerhouse with grit, grace, and a whole lotta Bluejay magic. Rosen’s got some big shoes to fill, but if there’s anyone who’s been soaking in the blueprint from the sidelines, it’s him.

Huge news out of Omaha! Kirsten Bernthal Booth is stepping down after 22 years. She went 502–192 at Creighton & made the NCAA tournament for the past 13 years. She did a tremendous job building them into a national power. The Bluejays promote assistant Brian Rosen to head coach. https://t.co/LF8lS5pgn1

— Lincoln Arneal (@Lincoln_VB) April 6, 2025

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